Yarvand Martsirasian
Political prisoner
Date of birth: 3 November 1973
Date of detention: 9 May 2024
Charges indicted:
- Art. 368 of the Criminal Code — Insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus
- Art. 411 — Malicious disobedience to the demands of administration of the correctional institution
Sentence: 2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Prison sentence start date: 4 October 2024
Judge: Sviatlana Kuzmichonak, Hanna Karalevich
Prison: Penal colony No. 11
Notes: Foreign citizens
Yarvand Martsirasian is a citizen of Armenia. He was convicted under Article 368 of the Criminal Code for insulting Aliaksandr Lukashenka. His case was heard by Judge Sviatlana Kuzmichonak in the Kastrychnitski District Court. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
According to the Viciebsk regional prosecutor's office, Martsirasian fully admitted his guilt during the court investigation. He explained that in a state of alcohol intoxication, in the official car, in the presence of employees of the Security Department, he repeatedly made negative remarks about Aliaksandr Lukashenka, and these statements were insulting.
On October 1, 2024 Viciebsk regional court considered Yarvand's appeal.
On October 4, 2024, he was added to the list of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens and stateless persons involved in extremist activities.
